<p>Sorry for the vague title. I wasn't sure how to name this.</p>
<p>I've currently finished two years at a more liberal arts school and I've decided that I want to do civil engineering. I've completed some of the requirements for the major (Calc I and II, Chem I...umm...I think that's it) and I'm currently taking my two intro Physics courses at a community college (over the summer).</p>
<p>Anyway, I've already completed Physics I, and my instructor (at the end of the course) told me that it would be better for me to do some of my engineering coursework at that community college (they have a Civil engineering major) and then transfer to a 4 year engineering school, reasons including that it's cheaper (2000 a year compared to 28000) and that the community college would better "nurture" me and prepare me for a 4 yerar school.</p>
<p>I've already been accepted to the 4 year engineering school, but I can tell them that I want to postpone my admission until whenever and then go to that community college. But is this something I want to do? Should I just jump right into the 4 year school (it's pretty rigorous, I hear) or go to community college and get those courses out of the way first?</p>
<p>EDIT: Oh oh oh...the 4 year school is Polytechnic University of New York, the community college is Nassau Community College, and the school I went to for two years is SUNY Binghampton, just in case anybody knows the schools.</p>
<p>Does stony brook have a civil engineering major? I remember considering that school a few years ago, but didn't see that dept listed, so I didn't apply.</p>
<p>Stonybrook has a (I think) mechanical engineering program, and a newer biomedical engineering program, but I'm sure it doesn't have any Civ engineering program.</p>
<p>SUNY is a good choice and pretty inexpensive compared to PolyTech. Plus, PolyTech students are always complaining about required course-work and difficulty of homework and exams. I am attending CUNY for Civil Engineering and have a brother attending PolyTech for MechE and is always complaining at how much work he is given. To be brutally honest, If you got accepted its a great opportunity, I wouldn't wait any longer due to the fact that you sound like you are already far behind your class. Community Colleges open the doors to great opportunities, as most people consider it a transition from high school into a big college. but most kids who transfer to difficult programs with much larger classes tend to find themselves pretty far behind as far as work in concerned thats if the school is willing to transfer your credits over.</p>
<p>Yeah, it's true that I'm behind, that's why I was hesitant to go to a community college and then transfer to Poly. I do hear a lot about the workload on Polytech, but I think I'm willing to deal with it (who says any other worthwhile major would have any less work anyway?)</p>
<p>But what I'm really thinking about is the money. Don't get me wrong, I can afford Poly, but it's very expensive (about 16000 out of pocket at least) and I'd rather not pay the money if I don't have to, especially if I can just take two years (or the equivalent amount of classes) at another schoola nd then just transfer the credits.</p>
<p>The only thing stopping me from doing this, though, is that I've already done two years of college, and that might slow me down further. (I'm 19 right now, btw). Is it really worth it to be in a rush to graduate?</p>
<p>No its not worth it, but I see no reason to go to poly if you could go to Manhattan College, I see no reason to go to Poly if you can go to Columbia.</p>
<p>Alot of people forget about Manhattan college, but it is probably the absolute best Civil program in NYC.</p>
<p>Plus its $10k cheaper than poly.</p>
<p>I have been to poly and I just was not a fan.</p>
<p>What makes you say Manhattan college is so good? personally, i've never heard it talked about when it comes to nyc and engineering. it's always been CCNY, columbia, the cooper union, and polytech, and the consensus has always been that columbia and cooper are the ones on top.</p>
<p>Why don't you check out the CUNY programs for civil engineering? What about SUNY schools? City College has a good engineering program and is very cost efficient (2800 per year.) So does SUNY at buffalo. If you are 19, and already in college for two years you are not behind. Just talk to students at PolyTech and make sure the work wont be overwhelming for you as it tends to be for most community college students transferring into the bigger schools.</p>
<p>I wouldn't consider Manhattan College.
1) It's outside of NYC (Long Island City)
2) It's ranked way lower than CUNY for engineering programs.</p>
<p>I assume the poster is a NY state resident, Considering he attends Nassau Community College and is looking at schools close by. All CUNY schools are 2800 per year (including summer and/or winter sessions), for all NY state residents. for out-of-state residents the rate is $190 per credit.</p>
<p>I thought Manhattan College was in the Bronx...but anyway, I wasn't considering it.</p>
<p>My grades are good, but not exactly good enough to get into Cooper Union, especially as a transfer student, otherwise I would definitely be considering it. I'm hearing Cooper's looking for 3.8-4.0 grade point averages, and that's not where I am right now (3.6). Same with Columbia.</p>
<p>However, I consider Poly despite not wanting to spend money simply because I'd rather have a better job outlook when I graduate, and I want to keep local, and it would seem to me that graduating with Poly would get better job offers than graduating with City Tech (or any other CUNY that offers Civ engineering). Poly's not really a "top" school, but it's the best that I can plausibly go to right now.</p>
<p>
[quote]
My grades are good, but not exactly good enough to get into Cooper Union, especially as a transfer student, otherwise I would definitely be considering it. I'm hearing Cooper's looking for 3.8-4.0 grade point averages, and that's not where I am right now (3.6). Same with Columbia.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>That is not true at all- check the transfer forums. There are people getting into harvard,yale,columbia and penn with 3.3, 3.4 G.P.A's. Then there's TONNES of kids with 3.9/4.0's getting rejected. A 3.6 is nothing to sneeze at...especially with 2 years worth of college credit completed. I would focus A LOT on your essays and reasons for wanting to transfer. As well as taking a rigorous courseload.</p>
<p>I'm not forcing you to apply to columbia- but i just don't see why you would pay 30,000 for a school like poly- IMO it's not worth that much when it's not even in the top 50. It 'may' have a rigorous curriculum but it's not worth much if it doesn't have a great rep. Seriously CCNY>= poly and I would rather finish school at CCNY and pay like 4K(per year)?</p>
<p>Cooper union's tuition-free policy makes it even much more selective.
Stony Brook is not far from NYC(while University of Buffalo is remote...even though it's located in New York state).
SUNY-Stony Brook or CUNY school may cater to you.Stony Brook seems to be getting better and better.</p>